What's your ecological footprint?

My son and I made New Year Resolutions to be Greener than we were before. We've made lots of progress this year, so I was interested to find out what my  ecological footprint is - that is, how many hectares of land would it take to support my lifestyle?

I was initially quite chuffed to note that my footprint is 3.9, compared to my average neighbour's 5.3.  Just as I was about to start congratulating myself, however, I read on and discovered the sobering information that if everyone lived like me, we'd need two and a half planets to sustain the global population. Back to the drawing board again, I think... 

Comments

[Mark]

Damn: 6.6.
Travel uses a lot, and convenience foods due to shifts.

[Caroline]

7.1, my problem was living on my own and so always driving on my own.

not sure what I can do about that! Somehow I don't think that it's a great chat up line "Come on over sometime and improve my ecological footprint!"

Still, I could use the train more when going to work, but not easy. I tried various options but it didn't have a huge effect, for example because I live on my own I tend to use packs of vegetables/salads otherwise there is waste. I want to use organic - but that's food miles, I want to buy local but that's packaging, this isn't easy. :-(

[Lorna]

Hey Maggi, this was fun!!
What I especially liked about it was it took where you live into account for the questions and the feedback.

My score came in at a miserable 6.1, which however was below the average (8.4) for here in Finland. I expect it's high here because it's so cold and there are so many hours of darkness in the winter.

Generally speaking I think Finns are pretty environment conscious and have a great love and respect for nature.

For Caroline. Most of us car pool a lot in Finland. especially for kids' hobbies and those who commute to another city. Is that possible for you, at least part of the way?

[Anna]

I came in at 11, when I cheated a bit on how much meat I ate. I live alone in Washington, DC in the good old resource-hogging USA. Although, in my defense, I walk/bus everywhere and my apartment really can't fit two. Not that I'd mind. Caroline, may I steal your chat-up line?

[Kevin Powell]

I came out a five. Living in a city with poor public transportation, and having a job that requires me to do a fair bit of driving, my footprint is larger than what makes me comfortable.

Some things have to change.

Thanks for pointing this out!

kgp

[Anna]

Wait! My footprint was 11 acres (apparently the US people are measured differently) which is 4.45 hectares. I feel a bit better now.

[varske]

Oh dear 10.3. I guess because I fly for work a lot. Depressing, but how else do I get to out of the way places.

[Kathryn]

3.1....I think that's the benefit of living in a family of 5, as we're pretty shoddy overall, despite efforts from me and the teens (except, of course, where computer usage is concerned...all of us online at every available second)
Cycling round the parish is my other good point...but food is dreadful...like Caroline, I haver between packaging and over processed food from local shops, or getting into car to buy more wholesome stuff from the other side of town. aargghh...Perhaps I could do a fuller audit so I can avoid finishing this dratted sermon...

[John]

I was very surprised to find that mine was only 2.6 hectares. Largely down to the fact, I suspect, that we don't fly at all or drive much. By far our largest contribution was food - 1.5 of our 2.6 hectares. Eating less meat and less imported food should probably be a priority.

Still, we're only at 1.4 Earths, which is pretty good!

pax et bonum